Ranger Intervenes In Attempted Suicide

Ranger Greg Johnson was responding to a report of a vessel in need of assistance on the afternoon of August 24th when he came upon a jet ski without on an operator. As Johnson approached, he saw a man without a life jacket struggling in the water. After pulling the man from the water, Johnson recognized he was highly intoxicated. During the interview that followed, Johnson realized that there was more going on here than just a person operating a jet ski under the influence of alcohol. The man admitted that he’d tried to kill himself and that he’d been in the water for an extended period of time. Prior to launching his jet ski, the man had altered the safety cutoff switch and cord to his PWC and donned a backpack full of rocks, intending to jump off well out into the lake. When he jumped, he hit at such a high rate of speed that the backpack flew off. Johnson’s immediate intervention is credited with saving this man’s life.